“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, ”You shall not eat of any tree in the garden”?’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths” (Genesis 3:1-7).
There was a time that I lost my appetite for the Bible. That happened when I realized that for more than 30 years I became a member of a religious group that was teaching erroneously.
Then I got hold of a Christian book and from one of its pages, these words really caught my attention: “God never wastes pain”! So, the time I thought misspent was not wasted after all. My interest in God’s Word returned and grew. And my longing to hear true Biblical messages was kindled.
The said book introduced me to God’s Sovereignty, which is a very great encouragement to me. And whenever I am able, I give a copy of the book to others. Not only to my close friends, but I had the opportunity to give even to Police Officers, including two Generals, and also to the City Mayor of our place.
The author of the book is Jerry Bridges and the title is Trusting God (with a sub-title: Even When Life Hurts).
And our topic this time is almost the same, as we name it … TRUSTING GOD’S WORD, as we focus on our text Genesis 3:1-7.
There is no doubt on the reliability of God and of His Word, but could we not trust other than God? Why not place also our trust on something else? But, if we prefer to trust the words of God, then what should we do? Actually, as we answer that, we could also indirectly identify the easy way to commit sin.
Before we go on, let’s recollect that Genesis was written by Moses before the Israelites entered the promised land. As we studied the first five verses of Genesis chapter 1, we learned that our Heavenly Father could make something out of nothing. Because He is the Eternal Creator. Also, we learned that He is the Sovereign Being, in complete control of all things. And He is the Supreme Personal Being, whom we could have intimate personal relationship. Really, we would seek and desire to have a close relationship with Him, because He is Supremely Good.
In chapter 2, His goodness was also displayed – not only showering man with physical favor, but also with a very good command that would assure him of eternal happiness.
In chapter 3, we saw that in spite of the Goodness of God and the goodness He extended, man committed the most heinous crime – expressing his disbelief of God’s Word, manifesting in his disobedience and rebellion that sprouted from his pride. And it brought suffering not only to himself but to the whole humanity he represented in the garden.
Now, we will review some initial verses of chapter 3, and see why it’s easy for our first parents to commit sin and let’s realize that because the words of our Creator are trustworthy, let us then…
I – Set Aside The Assertion Of The Most Learned (verse 4-5).
We read verses 4-5, “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Who is the person in this world more learned than Satan? No man can match his intelligence or wisdom. He is really full of wisdom (see Ezek. 28:17).
And notice how he made his opening remarks to the woman in verse 2, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” He purposely misquoted God and the woman tried to correct him, but she added also something else.
The words of God in chapter 2, verse 17 are: “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." However, the woman said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die” (Gen. 3:3).
Eve was now going to the line of thinking of Satan – misquoting God’s Word.
So, for Satan it was already easy for him to contradict the words of God. His lie was easily planted in the human mind. His eloquence, persuasiveness, tactics and his words were so appealing that he could convince the mind that was in the perfect state.
Not only that, but Satan also insinuated that God was trying to hold back something better to happen to our first parents. And he – Satan – was offering that better portion: “You will be like God”!
“Sweet” words of men in this world could not be compared with Satan, but many of us are easily deceived. Their words that appeal to the natural tendency of man to elevate himself – to be like God – could easily attract even so-called Christians to set aside the words of God.
What they set aside are the words of the Psalmist:
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes” (Ps. 118:8-9).
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Ps. 146:3-4)
Brothers and sisters, should we disregard those words of the Psalmist? Or, the words of the intelligent that go against God’s Word?
No matter how great is the charm, how fluent, how appealing is the personality of the man or his words, let’s place our trust in God’s Word. It is reliable.
Isaiah 26:3-4 declared, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
God’s declaration is more trustworthy, so set aside the assertion even of the most learned in this world.
Aside from that…
II – Set Aside The Assertion Of Our Own Selves (verse 6-A).
We read the early part of verse 6, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate,…”
Notice that our first parent relied on the human observation, human understanding, human judgement, human decision to commit an act, which was declared by God not to be done.
Our first parents in their human mind of perfection before erred in making the right decision. They failed to trust God. They were unable to have the right sense to choose what is right.
Today, how could we expect that the mind of man that is marred with sin would be able to choose what is right or in accord with God’s perfect will?
Yet, there are those who think that man has the power of the will that can even freely concoct faith to save him, that man can understand and choose what is right, or to have the correct decision.
Paul wrote the Christians in Corinth:
“For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God… The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:11, 14).
So, with our natural mind, we should not trust it, especially pertaining to spiritual undertakings.
Let us, then, trust God more than what our mind could choose. When confronted with God’s Word, let’s set aside our own judgements, reasoning, feelings, preferences. Let’s acknowledge our own incompetence, as Jeremiah declares:
“I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
Also, we read in Proverbs 28:25-26, “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
And it is pointed out in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Finally, God’s Word is more trustworthy, so…
III – Set Aside The Assertion Of One Closest To Us (verse 6-B).
We read last part of verse 6, “she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
Notice that Eve did not seduce her husband to do what was evil. Though what they did was really evil. But Eve thought that what she was doing was something beneficial and wanted to share it also with her husband. She had no ill feeling against her husband.
Her husband, however, trusted her more than the words of God. Adam thought that she cared more than God cared for him. Adam thought that what she offered to him was better than what God could offer.
But, what happened? We read first part of verse 7, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked…” The shame of guilt dawned on them.
Contrary to what Satan told them that they would be like God, they realized their relation with God was severed.
Even in my case, I thought that I did something good, bringing my family, even cousins, and influencing friends to be in a certain church. Unfortunately, I brought them to a group with unsound doctrine.
So, we could not completely or totally trust even those whom we thought would not bring us harm.
And remember the story of Samson with his wife and also with Delilah. His wife disclosed the answer to his riddle. And Delilah revealed the secret of his strength to the Philistines.
Also, Solomon who listened to his wives and ended in worshipping idols.
David also declared, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!” (Ps. 41:8-9).
Jeremiah 38:22 added, “Your trusted friends have deceived you and prevailed against you; now that your feet are sunk in the mud, they turn away from you.”
So, let’s prefer to trust in God’s Word. For, as the Psalmist declared: “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness” (Ps. 111:7-8).
Only God is absolutely Sovereign and He can truly accomplish what He said. He declared, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what a I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:10-11, NIV).
Jeremiah also wrote, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it’” (Jer. 1:12, ESV).
If we compare the declaration of men with that of God, according to Jeremiah, “… what has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces” (Jer. 23:28-29).
So, when confronted with God’s Word, set aside the words of men, even the words of someone who is close to you.
CONCLUSION:
But to set aside the assertions or words of the most learned, to set aside the whispers of our own ourselves, to set aside the persuasions of the one close to us is not easy. In fact, for the ordinary person it is impossible.
Just think of our first parents, who were in a spiritually “upright position,” yet instead of believing or trusting the words of God, they did not! They leaned on the side away from God. Persons who are not indwelt by the Spirit cannot lean toward God, cannot come or believe in His Words.
We need the grace of God. We need to hear spiritually His Sovereign call, “Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live” (Isa 55:2(B)-3(A).
“No man can come to me, unless the Father draws him…” (John 6:44), said Jesus. If we experienced the desire to come and believe in His Words, let your thanksgiving be unending. Continue to eat what is good – feed regularly on His words.
However, if you honestly feel that your heart is unfeeling as a stone, pray without ceasing until God create in you the heart of flesh, hungering, thirsting, desiring to come and believe and live by every Word of God.
